When it comes to DIY garage door repairs, many Floridians are knowledgeable about their overhead door systems and how to care for them. Residents in Palm City, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, and the surrounding areas dealing with problems relating to their garage often roll up their sleeves and take on garage door repairs themselves, especially before storm season arrives.

Today, we’ll highlight a few steps to help you judge what kind of condition your garage door springs are in, as well as the most common causes behind spring failures. If you’re ready to get started, contact us today for a free quote!

Gauging Your Garage Springs’ Longevity

Upon discovering an issue in the performance of your overhead door, it is important to get a measure of just how much work your springs are doing. The purpose of testing the strength of your springs is to see how much power they have left to raise and lower your door.

If you wish to quickly assess your garage door springs, follow these quick steps:

1. Release the door — With your door closed, release the red cord to separate the garage door from its opener.
2. Raise your door up and down — It is beneficial to check for a smooth operation while the door moves along its tracks. Any disruption throughout the movement (such as a bent track or misaligned roller) can indicate an issue that may be the root cause of your problem. Failure to fix this can also put additional strain on your springs.
3. Raise the door halfway and let go — The next step is to raise your overhead door a few feet off of the ground to roughly the midway point. Slowly release your grip on the door and watch where it travels. If your garage door stays in place, you can make the assumption that the springs are doing their job. If your door immediately falls toward the floor, it may be time for replacement.

The Need for Garage Door Spring Replacement

Most garage door springs are rated to last at least 10,000 cycles, which averages out to eight years for families that use their overhead door multiple times a day. Over the course of 20 years, you may only need to worry about replacing your garage door springs once or twice. Many Florida homeowners invest in high-quality springs to provide peace of mind for years to come, delivering reliable results in any weather.

If you’re wondering how your garage door springs got to the state they are in now, it can help to understand that three general problems can lead to spring failure:

• General wear and tear — It is impossible to avoid the degradation of your springs after thousands of uses. Sooner or later, your garage door springs will fail and need replacement.
• Dents and damage — While not entirely common, homes with children may experience a range of impacts due to errant soccer balls, frisbees, and more. A deformation in the springs may lead to irregular operations. If things are bad, we recommend seeking out professional garage door services.
• Rust and corrosion — In some cases, moist conditions and aging components can lead to rust. It’s important to take steps to minimize any corrosion on your garage door springs, as minor changes in the material can lead to drastic reductions in performance.

Contact Professionals for Garage Door Repairs

Our how-to post focused on assessing your garage door springs and not replacing them. This is because these springs are often under immense pressure, storing the energy needed to raise and lower your overhead door. It is highly recommended that you reach out to your local garage door company for service.

Guaranteed Garage Doors & Repair is here to deliver the best results for customers across Southern Florida. We deliver guaranteed garage door repairs to Palm City and beyond, delivering outcomes that are Better Than Best. Contact us today to request an estimate for garage door spring replacements, and be sure to ask about our warranty programs!